Emilie Meyer
Patty pans, also known as pattypan squashes, are small, disc-shaped squashes with scalloped edges. They come in shades of green and yellow and are available in the summer at farmers' markets and grocery stores. Patty pans are versatile and can be cooked in a variety of ways, including grilling, sautéing, and roasting. They have a mild, sweet flavour and go well with highly spiced or seasoned dishes. Patty pans can be stuffed, fried, or tossed with pasta, and are often seasoned with ingredients like lemon, garlic, and fresh herbs.
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What You'll Learn
Sautéing patty pans
Patty pan squash is a versatile vegetable that can be cooked in many ways, including sautéing. Sautéing patty pans is a quick and easy way to prepare this colourful summer squash.
To start, cut the patty pan squash into wedges, slices, or rounds. You can also trim the tops and bottoms of the squash, halve them, and then cut each half into wedges. Heat a generous amount of olive oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium to medium-high heat. Place the squash in the pan and season with salt and pepper. Resist the urge to stir or move the squash until they are browned. Sauté for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender but still has a bite to it.
Once the squash is tender, you can add other ingredients to the pan. For a simple dish, add lemon juice, garlic, and fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or mint. For a heartier meal, add spinach, sweet peppers, tomatoes, olives, and grated Parmesan or vegan Parmesan cheese. If you want to add a crunch to your dish, add toasted walnuts or pine nuts.
Patty pan squash is a delicious and versatile side dish that can be paired with pizza, pasta, or any protein of your choice.
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Roasting patty pans
To roast patty pans, first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Then, trim the tops and bottoms off the squash and halve them. Cut each half into wedges that are about 3/4-inch wide. Next, toss the squash wedges with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the wedges out on a preheated baking sheet and roast them in the oven until the bottoms are browned, which should take about 15 to 20 minutes.
You can also stuff your patty pans before roasting them. To do this, first boil the whole patty pans in a saucepan with one inch of water for about 10 minutes, or until you can easily pierce the stem with a fork. Then, slice off the top stem of each squash and use a melon baller to scoop out the centres. Mince the scooped-out squash and mix it with your choice of stuffing ingredients. Finally, fill the squash cavities with the stuffing mixture and roast them in the oven.
Roasted patty pans can be served as a side dish, either warm or at room temperature. They pair well with something highly spiced or seasoned, such as a sprinkle of feta cheese and fresh herbs like parsley or mint.
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Grilling patty pans
Grilling patty pan squash is a quick and easy way to prepare this summer vegetable. Patty pan squash is also known as scallop squash, peter pan squash, sunburst squash, and granny squash. It is a summer squash variety known for its distinctive flying saucer shape and scalloped edges. The squash plants resemble zucchini plants, and the individual squash can be dark green, light green, yellow, or white. Patty pan squash is commonly cooked when it is quite small and it can be used in many recipes that call for zucchini.
To grill patty pan squash, first cut each squash in half crosswise. Then, mix together olive oil, minced garlic cloves, and fresh rosemary in a bowl. Brush each side of the squash with the garlic and olive oil mixture. Place the squash on a grill preheated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and grill for 3-5 minutes per side. The squash is ready when it has grill marks and is soft when pierced with a fork.
There are many ways to season and serve grilled patty pan squash. Some ideas include crumbling goat cheese or feta cheese on top, or serving it with a pungent sauce like Italian salsa verde. Patty pan squash also goes well with grilled cod, grilled salmon burgers, grilled shrimp skewers, Greek pork chops, or grilled chicken with balsamic vinegar.
If you don't have an outdoor grill, you can easily cook patty pan squash on a stove-top grill pan with ridges or a George Foreman Grill. You can also slice the squash into wedges and sauté or roast them in the oven.
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Stuffed patty pans
Patty pan squash is a versatile vegetable that can be cooked in many ways, including roasting, sautéing, and grilling. A fun way to prepare them is to stuff and bake them, which is a great option if you have an abundance of squash from your garden.
To make stuffed patty pans, first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bring a saucepan of water to a boil over medium-high heat, ensuring the water is about one inch deep. Add the whole squash and cook, covered, for about 10 minutes, or until a fork can easily pierce the stem. Drain the water, then carefully slice off the top stem of the squash. Using a melon baller or a spoon, scoop out the centres of the squash, being careful not to pierce the walls. Reserve the scooped-out squash flesh for the filling.
For a cheesy bacon stuffing, cook some bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until browned. Remove the bacon to a paper towel and set aside. In the same skillet, sauté some diced onion in the bacon drippings. Chop the reserved squash and add it to the skillet, sautéing for about a minute. Combine this mixture with the bacon in a bowl, adding in your cheese of choice. Stuff each squash with this mixture and place them in a baking dish.
You can also experiment with different fillings. For a vegetarian option, try sautéing onions, garlic, eggplant, tomato, and Swiss chard in olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs like basil and thyme. Stuff the patty pans with this mixture and place them in the oven to bake.
The goal is to achieve crisp-tender squash with a delicious char or caramelisation on the outside. Depending on your preferred cooking method, grilling or roasting the stuffed squash should take between 15 to 20 minutes in a hot oven.
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Seasoning patty pans
Patty pan squash is a versatile vegetable that can be seasoned in a variety of ways. The most common method of preparation is sautéing, but they can also be roasted or grilled.
Sautéing
To sauté patty pans, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. You can also add butter for extra flavour. Once the butter is foaming, add onions and sauté until they are tender and translucent. Then, add the patty pans and season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Sauté for 7 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender but still has a bite. You can also add lemon zest, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan cheese to taste.
Roasting
To roast patty pans, toss the cut squashes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast them on a pre-heated baking sheet in a hot oven until the bottoms are browned, which should take 15 to 20 minutes.
Grilling
Grilling is a great option if you want to keep your kitchen cool. Simply brush the patty pans with olive oil and place them on a hot grill until charred and tender.
Dressings and Stuffings
Patty pans can also be dressed with lemon juice and olive oil, then sprinkled with crumbled feta cheese and fresh herbs like parsley or mint. For a heartier dish, you can stuff the patty pans with a mixture of rice, bacon, and vegetables.
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